YouTube blocks music vids in UK, says 'not economically sustainable'

In YouTube's
blog yesterday, Patrick Walker, Director of Video Partnerships (Europe, Middle East, and Africa), announced that premium music video content would be blocked from view in the UK.

Citing a failure in negotiations with the publishing, composing, and songwriting organization PRS for Music (Performing Rights Society), Walker said, "The costs are simply prohibitive for us -- under PRS's proposed terms we would lose significant amounts of money with every playback. In addition, PRS is unwilling to tell us what songs are included in the license they can provide so that we can identify those works on YouTube -- that's like asking a consumer to buy an unmarked CD without knowing what musicians are on it."

The move will block all premium music videos in the UK that have been supplied or claimed by record labels. Walker called the decision to do so "painful," and continued, "We know the significant disappointment it will cause within the UK. And to be clear, this is not an issue with the record labels, with most of whom we have strong relationships."

PRS replied in outrage, "This action has been taken without any consultation with PRS for Music and in the middle of negotiations between the two parties.  PRS for Music has not requested Google to do this and urges them to reconsider their decision as a matter of urgency."

The organization represents artists, labels, songwriters, and musicians; and collects performance and broadcasting fees to pay them. These are obtained any time a song is played on the radio, or when certain videos are played on YouTube or on television.

CEO of PRS for Music, Steve Porter issued a statement, saying "Google's drastic action...only punishes British consumers and the songwriters whose interests we protect and represent."